Early this week a construction supply issue in connection with the Benson Pool renovation came up, resulting in the completion of the work to be further delayed. The Benson Pool will therefore no re-open in September and is anticipated to be closed for much of the Fall session.

AC staff has spent the past couple of days re-vamping the entire Fall term aquatics programs, resulting in cancellation and reductions in many programs for the Fall term. Here is how this will affect TMU pool bookings:

The schedule for the first week remains the same as announced earlier, that is Sunday (Sept. 14) and Thursday (Sept. 18) as originally planned, i.e. 4 lanes 50m LC, Monday (Sept. 15) and Wednesday (Sept. 17) 7-9 AM, 4 lanes SC, Friday (Sept. 19) cancelled.

Starting Sunday, September 21, TMU is booked for the 50m pool as follows:

• Sundays: 10-11:50 AM, Lanes 1-4, Long Course, as originally planned.
• Mondays and Wednesdays: 7:30-9 AM, Lanes 1-4, Short Course, South End (Rec Swim in Lanes 5-8).
• Thursdays: 9-11 PM, Lanes 1-4, Long Course, as originally planned.
• Fridays: 7-9 PM, lanes 1-4, Short Course, South End (Synchro in lanes 5-8).

All five weekly practices, except for the first Friday, are still on, though three of them with lane reductions.

This schedule will be in place until the 25yd pool re-opens. A revised opening date for the Benson Pool will be announced once available.

UPDATE: Two lanes added for Monday (Sept. 15) and Wednesday (Sept. 17) practices, for a total of four lanes (short course).

Maintenance in the 50m pool will begin tomorrow, Monday, August 18 and there will be no recreational swims held from Monday, August 18 until Sunday, August 24, inclusive.

During this time AC members can use the Hart House pool. The hours are Mondays through Fridays: 7-9 AM, 11 AM to 2 PM, and 4-10:30 PM. Weekend hours are 10:30 AM to 8 PM, holidays 11 AM to 4 PM. Please bring your own lock. Towel service can be purchased on a per use basis at the Hub for $2.25 (cash only).

The rec swim schedule for after August 24 will be announced once available.

Also open during August is the D.D. Summerville outdoor pool at 1867 Lakeshore Blvd E (Lakeshore and Woodbine), operated by the City of Toronto, which is quite popular with Masters swimmers. It is open for leisure swim daily (until August 30) from 10 Am to 4 PM and 5 PM to 7 PM, and for lane swim from 7-8 PM. On August 31 at 4 PM it will be closed for the season. Admission is free. More information is available here. Information on all City of Toronto outdoor pools is available here.

Enjoy the rest of your summer!

UPDATE: Recreational swim at the AC resumes on Monday, August 25. Schedule: Aug. 25-31, Sept. 2-7 ,Sept. 8-21. No Rec Swim on Labour Day (Sept. 1) – AC closed.

The Benson Pool is now scheduled for reopening on Monday the 22^nd when the ongoing extensive repairs are expected to be completed. Since this is one week after the start of our Fall term there will be a few changes to our schedule for the first week. The schedule for September 14 to September 21 is as follows:

Sunday the 14^th morning practice:

• Stays the same from 10-11:50am in the 50m pool.

Monday the 15^th and Wednesday 17th the morning practices:

• TMU will have Lane 1&2 in the South End (Short Course, two lanes only)
• Instead of doing a 7:30-9am practice, TMU will have a 7am start and 9am finish (an extra half hour each!).

Thursday the 18^th practice:

• Stays the same from 9:10-11pm in the 50m

Friday the 19^th evening practice:

• This practice will need to be cancelled since it’s the only one usually in the Benson pool and there is no room to move TMU down to the 50m during that time.

Sunday the 21^st morning practice

• Stays the same from 10-11:50am in the 50m pool.

Starting Monday September 22^nd, the schedule will go back as originally planned and M/W practices will be the whole South End in 50m starting at 7:30am.